The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present a spectrum of activities including lantern carnivals, spectacular lantern display "Legend in the Moonlight Shadow" and lanterns exhibition to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Admission to all programmes is free.

Featuring a variety of entertainment programmes, lantern carnivals will be held on September 27 at Sha Tin Park, Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza and Podium, on September 28 at Victoria Park, and on September 29 at Ko Shan Road Park and Ko Shan Theatre, and Tsuen Wan Sha Tsui Road Playground.

The San Tau Art Troupe from the mainland will present Chinese music, ethnic dance and acrobatic performances in the carnivals at Shatin Park, Victoria Park and Ko Shan Road Park.

Adding colour to the festival, a spectacular lantern display "Legend in the Moonlight Shadow" will be exhibited at Kowloon Park from September 25 to October 24. Greeting visitors at the entrances of Haiphong Road, Austin Road and Nathan Road are "bamboo groves" lantern pillars. Inside the rim of "bamboos trees" are three "Kongming lanterns" decorated with traditional Chinese papercuts.

Near the park's Bird Lake is the spectacular lantern "The Legend of the White Snake" telling a popular love tale of Lady Bai She and Xu Xian. This lantern tableau is made up of three scenes: "The First Encounter", "The Flooding of the Jinshan Temple" and "Forever Trapped under the Thunder Pagoda". Along the trail in the moonlight shadow, Lady Bai She whispers her legendary love story with her beloved Xu Xian among bushes.

Located near the Land Mark in the park, another lantern display "Blessings from the Nine Dragons" features a grand "Wall of the Nine Dragons" and the "Make-a-Wish Fountain", blessing all families healthy and prosperity. At the Piazza, lanterns crafted in the shape of insects - butterflies, ladybirds, dragonflies will be on display. With their bright colours and lovely shapes, they create a fantastic world of wonderful fairy tales.

All entries in the 2004 Mid-Autumn Lantern Design Competition, including the winning designs, will be displayed at the Exhibition Hall, Hong Kong City Hall from September 29 until October 8.

People are urged to avoid littering and wax-burning while celebrating the festival.